Coaling apparatus.



/ff J P. E. DAVIS.

GOALING APPARATUS.

APrLIcATIoN FILED MAY 11, 1912.

1,051,699.. Patented Ja11.28, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@Noting cbLuMBIA PLANoaRArn Co.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

F. E. DAVIS. COALING APPARATUS.

APPLIQATION FILED MAY 11, 1912. 1,051,699. Patented Jamas, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. E. DAVIS.

GOALING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 11, 1912.

1,051,699. Patented Jan.28,1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

| Nummx'n cU..w^sHlNGTON. D. c.

FRANK E. DAVIS, OF PAYETTE, IDAHO.

COALING APPARATUS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28,1913.

Application filed. May 11, 1912. Serial No. 696,796.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK E. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Payette, in the county of Canyon and State of Idaho, have invented new and useful Improvements in Coaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in eoaling apparatus and has particular application to an apparatus of this nature for train or locomotive tenders.

In carrying out this invent-ion, it is my purpose to provide a coaling apparatus by means of which the tender of the locomotive may be supplied with coal while such tender is in motion.

It is also my purpose to provide an apparatus of this character which shall be entirely auto-matic in operation thereby eliminating the inconvenience heretofore incident to manually controlled coaling apparatus.

Furthermore, I aim to provide an apparatus of this class which shall include a chute mounted upon the tender in such manner as to normally maintain an inactive position when such tender is supplied with coal and which may be automatically thrown to an active position to receive coal when the supply or quantity thereof within the tender has fallen below a predetermined amount.

The invention also involves a coal holding table or platform arranged adjacent a track structure and equipped with a trip designed to automatically release the chute or scoop of the tender so that such scoop may convey or deliver the coal from the t-able to the tender, means being arranged within the tender and controlled by the quantity of coal therein to return the chute to its normal or inactive position upon the filling of the tender.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated one practical embodi `ment of my invention; F1gure 1 1s a top plan view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof, the coal container being shown in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the tender showing the arrangement of the chute and its controlling means. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the tender, parts Vbeing broken away. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the connections between the scoop and tender, and Fig. 6 is a modified form of a detail of the invention.

Similar reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, a track structure is designated at A upon which is designed to travel a locomotive tender indicated at B, and adjacent to which is located a coal container C.

The coal container C, as shown, is arranged adjacent to one side of the track structure and extends longitudinally thereof, and in this instance comprises a receptacle or reservoir consisting of the front and rear walls 1 and 2 respectively, and the top and bottom walls 3 and 4 respectively, the top wall 3 being substantially horizontal while the lower or bottom wall inclines downwardly and toward the track structure, a discharge opening 5 being formed between the lower edge of the front wall 1 and the proximate edge of the inclined bottom wall 4, while a horizontal table 6 is integral with such bottom wall and extends outwardly of the discharge opening 5 of the coal reservoir, the coal within such reservoir gravitating to the table owing to the inclination of the bottom wall 4, the container being mounted upon a supporting frame 7 of any suitable or preferred construction and material.

The upper wall 3 of thc container is provided with enlarged openings 8 adapted to be opened and closed by means of sliding doors 9, and upon the opposite sides of such openings and extending longitudinally of the upper wall of the container are the rails of a track way 10 designed to accommodate a loading car 11, which ear is adapted to convey the coal and discharge the same into the container, the sliding doors 9 being removed from the openings for this purpose. The rails of the track way 10, at one end of the container, terminate in an inclined way 12 so as to enable the coal carrying cars to be run upon the track way 10 and removed therefrom, as will be readily understood, any suitable means being employed to run the ear upon the ways 12 and 10. Located at a suitable distance from one end of the esl table 6 is a standard or post 13 provided with a right angularly extending trip or arm 14, the purpose of which will presently appear.

Mounted upon the tender B and arranged longitudinally thereof, is a chute or ccnveyer 15, shown in the present instance to be in the form of a circular tube provided with a reinforced squared end portion 16 adapted to engage the table 6 and convey the coal from such table to the interior of the tender. This chute is mounted for swinging movement with respect to the tender and in its normal or inactive position rests upon one edge of one side of such tender, the chute inthis position being disposed in a planeabove that of the table 6. Connected to the rear end -of the scoop 15, is a flexible elbow 16 having telescopic engagement as at 17 with a conduit 18 arranged transversely of the tender and terminating in a downwardly projecting discharge nipple 19 located at approximately the center of the transverse dimension of the tender. Encircling the conducting tube 18 is a collar or band 20 provided at diametrically opposite points with guide rollers 21, 21 which rollers are adapted to ride upon spaced parallel cross rods 22 in the movement of the chute 15 so that the conduit 18 may have more or less movement to accommodate the movement of the scoop and prevent binding of the parts.

The scoop 15, forwardly of its connectionwith the elbow 16 and preferably centrally of its length, is rigidly secured to a right angular arm 25 pivotally mounted as at 24 upon a bracket fixed to the adjacentside of the tender. This right angular arm normally maintains the scoop 15 in an inactive position by means of a spring catch 26 provided with an oustanding pin 27 disposed in the path of the trip arm 14 on the standard 13. It will thus be seen that the spring catch 26 of the arm 25 will be released when the pin 27 thereof contacts with the trip arm 14 in the movement of the tender so that t-he scoop 15 will be lowered to engage the mout-h 16 thereof with the table 6 of the coal container, whereby coal may be fed from the table into the tender.

In order to impart an initial downward movement to the scoop upon the release of the spring catch and to cushion the fall of the scoop and to guide the latter in its movement, I make use of a guide rod 28 fixed at one end to the interior of one side of the locomotive tender adjacent to the forward end of the scoop 15, as at 29, and having its opposite end connected to the exterior of the tender by means of a bracket 30 spaced a suitable distance below the upper,l

edge of the proximate side of the tender. Encircling the guide rod 28 adjacent its connection 29 with the interior of the tender is a coiled expansion spring 31 designed to exert its tension to impart an initial movement to the chute so that the latter may be thrown to an active position immediately upon the release of the spring catch 26, while a coiled spring 32 encircles the opposite extremity of the guide rod adjacent the bracket 30 and acts to cushion the fall of the chute in its movement to active or loading position. Thus, it will be seen that the chute in its movement to active position moves in an arc of a circle so as to throw the mouth 16 thereof onto the table 6 whereby the coal may be conveyed from the table to the tender, while the latter is in motion, the flexible elbow 16 and telescopic connection 17 of such elbow ,with the conduit 18, accommodate this movement of the chute and eliminate binding or derangement of the parts. a

In accordance with the present invention, a mechanism is provided to restore the chute 15 to normal or inactive position when t-he tender has been filled with the required amount of coal, and this mechanism, in the present instance, consists of a gate 33 arranged vertically within the tender and pivoted therein at its lower end as at 34, the upper end of such gate being connected to the chute 15 by means of a lliexible element 35, such as a chain, cord, cable, or the like trained over suitable guide rollers 36 journaled in brackets 37 projecting inwardly of the tender. In the loading or coaling position of the chute, the gate 33 abuts stops 38, 38 secured to `the opposite sides of the tender and is held in engagement with such stops by means of springs 39 which hold the gate against the weight of the coal until a predetermined quantity of the latter has been deposited within the tender, at which time the spring 39 will yield and permit the movement of the gate under the action of the coal to restore the chute to normal or inactive position, the spring catch 26 automatically locking the arm 23 and consequently the chute in inactive position.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and mode of operation will be readily apparent, and the operation of my invention may be briefly stated as follows:

Assuming the coal to be exhausted upon the tender and the latter moving upon the track structure A, it will be seen that when the pin 27 of the spring catch 26 engages the trip arm 14 on the standard 13, the spring 31 upon the guide rod 28 will act to throw the chute 15 to a coaling or active position thereby enabling the same to ride over the table 6 and convey the coal to the tender. IVhen the tender has been filled with a suflicient quantity of coal, the weight of the latter actuates the gate 33 to swing the same about its pivot point 34 thereby elevating or rendering inactive the chute 5 through the medium of the flexible element 35, the spring catch 36 serving to lock the chute in its inactive posit-ion. The table 6, at one end, is preferably inclined downwardly so as not to obstruct the passage of the chute 15 over the same.

In Fig. 6, I have illustrated a hand operated mechanism for raising the chute 15 to render the same inoperative. This mechanism, in the present embodiment of my invention, consists of a drum or windlass 40 located at a convenient point upon the tender and provided with an operating handle 41 and a ratchet 42 with which latter engages a dog 43 designed to prevent accidental movement of the drum in one direc tion. A cable 44 or the like, has one end convoluted about the drum 40 and is adapted to be wound thereon, while its opposite end is connected to the chute 15, the cable being trained over suitable guide rollers 45 so that in the movement of the drum under the action of the operating handle, the chute may be elevated or rendered inactive at any desired time and independently of the automatic return mechanism of the chute. If desired, the springs 89 of the gate 83, may be adjustable so as to permit of the adjusting movement of the gate after the tender has been supplied with a predetermined amount of coal.

While I have shown and described one form of my invention by illustration, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit or confine myself to all of the details of construction herein set forth and delineated, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of the claims and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

yI claim:

1. The combination with a track structure and a tender movable thereon, of a stationary coal container adjacent the track structure,-means carried by said tender and movable into engagement with said container to convey the coal from the latter to the tender, and means operable under the weight of the coal within the tender to move the first means out of engagement with the container.

2. The combination with a track structure and a tender movable thereon, of a coal container adjacent the track structure, a table in communication with said coal container, a scoop carried by said tender, means for moving the scoop into engagement with said table to convey the coal from the latter to the tender, and means within the tender and adapted to restore the chute to an inactive position under the weight of the coal within the tender.

3. The combination with a track structure and a tender movable thereon, of a coal container' adjacent to the track structure, a table in communication with said coal container, a scoop carried by said tender and adapted for swinging movement relatively thereto, means normally holding the scoop in inactive position, means for relieving the scoop of the influence of the first means, means for throwing the scoop to active or coaling position upon the release of the firstna-med means, and means for restoring the scoop to an inactive position.

4. The combination with a track structure and a tender movable thereon, of a coal con tainer adjacent to the track structure, a scoop or chute carried by said tender, means for holding the scoop normally inactive, means for relieving the scoop of the influence of the first-named means, means for throwing the scoop to active or coaling position upon the release of said first-named means, and means for cushioning the fall of the scoop in its movement to coaling position.

5. The combination with a track structure and a tender movable thereon, of a coal container adjacent to the track structure, a scoop or chute carried by said tender, means for holding the scoop normally inactive, means for relieving the scoop of the influence of the first-named means, means for throwing the scoop to active or coaling position upon the release of said first-named means, means for cushioning the fall of the scoop in its movement to coaling position, and means for restoring` the scoop to inactive or non-coaling position.

G. The combination with a track structure and a tender movable thereon, of a coal container adjacent to the track structure, a scoop carried by said tender and adapted to establish communication between the tender and container, means for holding the scoop normally inactive, means for relieving the scoop of the influence of the rst means, whereby the scoop will assume an active or coaling position, a guide rod for guiding the scoop in its path of movement to coaling position, a spring for throwing said scoop to coaling position upon the release of the firstnamed means, and a second spring for cushioning the fall of the scoop in its movement to active or coaling position.

7. The combination with a track structure and a tender movable thereon, of a stationary coal container adjacent to the track structure, means carried by said tender and movable into engagement with said container to convey the coal from the latter to the tender, and means for moving the first means out of engagement with said container, said last-named means comprising a gate pivoted within the tender and operable under the weight of the coal.

8. The combination with a track structure and a tender movable thereon, of a station ary coal container adjacent the track structure, means carried by said tender and movable into engagement with said container to convey the coal from the latter to the tender,

means operable under the weight of the coal wit-hin the tender to move the first means out of engagement with the container, and means for holding the last-named means against operation until a predetermined quantity of coal has been deposited within the tender.

9. The combination with a track structure and a tender movable thereon, of a coal container adjacent the track structure, a table in communication with said coal container, a scoop carried by said tender, a right angular arm having one end rigidly secured to said scoop and the opposite end pivoted to said tender whereby the scoop may swing relatively to the tender onto said table, a catch normally in engagement with said arm to hold the scoop in inactive position, means for relieving said arm of the iniiuence of the catch whereby the scoop may swing to coaling position and onto the table, and means for guiding the scoop in its movement to coaling position, andmeans operable automatically for restoring said scoop to inactive or non-coaling position.

ILO. The combination with a track structure and a tender movable thereon, of a coal container adjacent the track structure, a table in communication with said coal container, a scoop carried by said tender, a right angular arm having o-ne end rigidly secured to said scoop and the opposite end pivoted to said tender whereby the scoop may swing relatively to the tender and onto said table, a catch normally in engagement with said arm to hold the scoop in inactive position, means for relieving said arm of the influence of the catch whereby the scoop may swing to co-aling position and onto the table, means for guiding the scoop in its movement to coaling position, and means for restoring said scoop to inactive or non-coaling position.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. SLEETER, AUGUSTA Davis.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

